He could have been speaking for the players on both the Red Sox and Rays after they'd gone at each other relentlessly for nine innings Monday night.

Baseball has this ability to deliver games like this one, games that feel like some mix of splendid theater and a great heavyweight fight. There were players diving here, there and everywhere.

There were spectacular defensive plays and a couple of boneheaded ones, too. But the mistakes added to the drama.

"It was one of those games people love to watch," Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said, "and you want to be part of."

It was a game that had everything. In all, 37 players got into it, including 11 pitchers who threw 312 pitches.

For the Tampa Bay Rays, the bottom line is that they won it, 5-4, to keep their season alive at least one more day. In the last eight days, they've played four elimination games in four different cities and won 'em all.

They still trail this best-of-five American League Division Series 2-1, and so will be playing another win-or-go-home game Tuesday night in Game 4. No big deal, right? Been there, done that.

"We played a very good game tonight," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

He said he never expected anything less from the Rays.

"I'm sure there's an attitude they have nothing to lose and just let it all hang out," he said.

The Red Sox left runners in scoring position in four of the nine innings. For a team that led the Majors in runs this season, they don't have many nights like this one.

But Maddon got five decent innings from his starter, Alex Cobb, and then shuffled in four relievers for the final four.

Afterward, neither team said it expected a quick series.

"We're coming back hungry just like we did today," Ortiz said. "We know this ain't over. We know we've got to come and play, make pitches, score runs. We've got to do whatever it takes to win the game."

Richard Justice is a columnist for MLB.com. Read his blog, Justice4U. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.